Round 10, 1997
Richmond vs Melbourne
Saturday 31 May
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 28,879
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Richmond | 3.5 | 7.11 | 9.11 | 9.13.67 |
| Melbourne | 4.2 | 6.2 | 11.6 | 14.8.92 |
Melbourne win by 25 points
Goalkickers: Jeff Farmer 4, Alastair Clarkson 2, Craig Nettelbeck 2, Todd Viney 2, Shane Woewodin 2, Garry Lyon 1, Adem Yze 1
Brownlow Votes:
3 - Jim Stynes
1 - Todd Viney
Milestones:
Rising Star nomination
Shane Woewodin
First Game as Coach
Greg Hutchison
After the capitulation at Football Park against Port Adelaide the week before Neale Balme had been sacked on Thursday. Greg Hutchison was appointed caretaker captain, and boosted by Garry Lyon returning despite being noticeably unfit, he won his first game in charge. With Lyon's return the Demons were able to forward a much improved forward line on the one that had managed just three goals against Port. With Lyon, Craig Nettelbeck and Leigh Newton as targets to complement Jeff Farmer and Sean Charles they looked far more dangerous.
Richmond arrived with a 4-5 record, but were expected to easily take care of a side that hadn't won a game since Round 1. The Demons took a slight lead into the first change, before it looked like Richmond would run away with the game when they kicked four goals to two in the second quarter, leading by 15 points at the long break, and with 10 more scoring shots. They had been fading out of games all year, and it happened again. Jeff Farmer got two of his four goals within two minutes during the third quarter to put Melbourne ahead again.
A seven point lead survived the low scoring last quarter, with Shane Woewodin getting the first goal after 10 minutes. Adem Yze kicked the sealer five minutes later, and the Tigers failed to register a major in the final term.
Best were Viney, Farmer and Gaspar. Matthew Febey was replaced in the selected side by Steven Febey due to a knee injury and Jeff Farmer hurt his heel. Paul Hopgood was reported by the emergency umpire for striking Wayne Campbell during the third quarter but the charge was withdrawn.
Reserves
Richmond 22.10.142 d. Melbourne 10.9.69
Goals - Irving 2, Bishop 2, Bolton 1, Goodale 1, Robertson 1, Black 1, Lamprill 1, De Crespigny 1
Best - McHardy, Goodale, Hardie
Lists
Tribunal
Media
Age - 30/05/1997, 01/06/1997, 02/06/1997
Football Record - R11 1997